HIV Persists In The Gut Despite Long-term HIV Therapy

The HIV virus has been known to hide out in the gut, but studies now show that the anti-viral treatment can't get rid of the virus in its hideout. This prevents HIV patients from recovering fully from the infection. The CD4 cells that HIV infects are contained in lymph nodes and patches of lymphocytes that are called the gut-associated lymphoid tissue, or GALT. A new NIAID study showed that antiretroviral therapy does not eradicate HIV from the GALT. Because of this, HIV also persists in the blood. This is bad news for HIV patients everywhere, and suggests that an even stronger drug is needed to flush the virus out of the gut.

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www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02080213170338.htm

Stephanie